When Adobe announced a new feature called PDF Spaces, I was intrigued. As a longtime fan of NotebookLM, Google's AI-powered research assistant, I wondered how Adobe's offering would stack up against my daily go-to tool.

What Are Adobe PDF Spaces?

PDF Spaces is a workspace feature introduced in Adobe Acrobat Studio. It uses AI agents to transform your uploaded documents into interactive knowledge hubs. Once you upload your files, you can converse with the AI, asking questions and getting summaries. Sound familiar? It's a similar concept to how NotebookLM operates.

How Do PDF Spaces Compare to NotebookLM?

Now let's break down the comparison. PDF Spaces allows you to upload up to 100 files, including PDFs, DOCXs, PPTXs, and more. Adobe's interface feels sleek and modern, offering a chat panel for Q&A that's reminiscent of NotebookLM. But here's where it gets interesting: PDF Spaces provides auto-generated insights in individual cards, allowing for more focused interaction.

Engagement and Accuracy

Both tools excel at helping you interact with your documents, but they differ in execution. PDF Spaces quickly generates questions you can ask and delivers concise, organized responses. It was refreshing to see how Adobe organizes insights compared to NotebookLM's standard summaries.

The Missing Features of PDF Spaces

However, while PDF Spaces covers the core function well, it doesn’t match the broader capabilities of NotebookLM. With NotebookLM, you also get features like AI-generated podcasts, interactive Mind Maps, and more—something PDF Spaces lacks. Plus, NotebookLM offers a solid free tier, while PDF Spaces is a paid service after a 14-day trial period.

Should You Ditch NotebookLM for PDF Spaces?

In conclusion, while PDF Spaces performs its designated tasks efficiently, I find it hard to justify the cost when NotebookLM provides a richer experience at a lower price point. For anyone who values a comprehensive suite of features, sticking with NotebookLM makes more sense.

Final Thoughts

Adobe’s PDF Spaces was an interesting experiment for me, but the allure of NotebookLM’s free features and additional tools keeps me from switching. If you’re in the market for an effective document interaction tool, don’t overlook NotebookLM—especially if you're not keen on shelling out monthly fees.